PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Riku Kurikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kira Miyata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Miyata has chosen NANO - no pain, no game as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kurikka
vs
Miyata

177 cm
23
148 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

171 cm
23
153 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

No Contest Clothing

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Kurikka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kira Miyata!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurikka lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Miyata ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Miyata has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kurikka throws out a loose jab but Miyata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kurikka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kurikka throws the left hand but Miyata avoids the punch easily.
Kurikka misses with a lunging right hand

and Miyata counters with a single leg into guard. Kurikka didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Miyata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kurikka is keeping the position for now.
Kurikka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Miyata on the ground.
Miyata controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kurikka wants to get back to his feet but Miyata is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Miyata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kurikka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Riku Kurikka.
Kurikka lands a slapping body shot.
Kurikka throws out a loose jab but Miyata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Miyata slips a straight right by Kurikka.
Kurikka swats away the attempt to clinch by Miyata.
Riku Kurikka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kurikka fails to land with a series of punches.
Miyata defending well as Kurikka loads up on a big left hand.
Kurikka throws a right hand that misses
and Miyata counters with a thumping low kick.
Kurikka misses with a series of wild punches.
Miyata uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kurikka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyata connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kurikka throws out a loose jab but Miyata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kurikka throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Miyata counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Miyata wants to control but Kurikka is keeping him busy.

Miyata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Miyata is working for a submission of some sort.

Miyata seems to be working for a kimura but Kurikka defends the submission attempt.
Miyata is thwarting Kurikka's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyata prevents Kurikka from improving his position.

Miyata is looking for a kimura but Kurikka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Miyata to get the leverage.
Miyata stops Kurikka from getting back to his feet.
Kurikka wants to control but Miyata is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kurikka tries to kick Miyata off but Miyata keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Miyata tries to pass to full mount but Kurikka defends it.
Miyata has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Miyata wants to take Kurikka's back here but Kurikka is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Kurikka tries to hold on but Miyata pushes him away.
Kurikka is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurikka tries to hold on but Miyata pushes him away.
Kurikka is controlling an arm, preventing Miyata from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Kurikka squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Miyata fails to take his opponent's back.
Kurikka tries to reverse the position but Miyata maintains control.

Miyata working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kurikka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Miyata working for a submission but Kurikka is keeping him at bay.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kurikka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kira Miyata will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kurikka just misses with a punch to the body.
Kurikka misses with a looping left.
Kurikka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kurikka throws a lazy uppercut
and Miyata counters with a three punch combo that has Kurikka backing up. Kurikka nods at Miyata to acknowledge the strikes.
Kurikka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Miyata needs to keep his hands up - Kurikka had a free shot at his head there.
Kurikka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Miyata ducks under a wild hook from Kurikka.
Kurikka throws a hook but Miyata blocks it.
Kurikka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Miyata.
Kurikka misses with a hook. Miyata ducked under it nicely.
Kurikka misses with a double jab
and Miyata counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyata throws a hook to the side of Kurikka's head but Kurikka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Miyata throws a chopping leg kick but Kurikka manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kurikka looks to score with a jab to the body but Miyata is just out of range.
Kurikka misses with a right hand
and Miyata counters with a nice uppercut.
Kurikka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riku Kurikka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Miyata showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kurikka.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kurikka.
Kurikka cracks Miyata with an open hand slap.
Kurikka swings widly with a right hand
and Miyata counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kurikka thinking.
Kurikka misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Miyata to counter with a crisp jab.
Miyata uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kurikka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurikka misses with a straight right.
Kurikka throws a right hand that Miyata ducks under and follows up with a left that Miyata also avoids with ease.
Kurikka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Miyata sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Riku Kurikka is winning the standup battle so far.
Miyata throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kurikka.
Sloppy strikes from Kurikka. Those never looked like landing.
Kurikka jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kurikka misses with a right hand
and Miyata counters with a three punch combo that has Kurikka backing up. Kurikka nods at Miyata to acknowledge the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Kurikka misses its intended target.
Kurikka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kurikka slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Kurikka misses the target.
Kurikka jabs Miyata right on the nose. Miyata blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyata on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Miyata throws a low kick but Kurikka avoids it.
Miyata dodges the punch combination from Kurikka.
Miyata walks into a straight right hand from Kurikka.

Miyata gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kurikka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kurikka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Miyata counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kurikka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kurikka throws a hook to the side of Miyata's head but Miyata sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kurikka misses with an uppercut.
Kurikka swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurikka getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kurikka looks to land a left hand but Miyata moved out of range nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurikka misses with a right hand

and Miyata counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kurikka's guard now.
Kurikka is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Miyata dives into side control.
Miyata trying to control the action but Kurikka is working from the bottom.
Kira Miyata has got the better of the ground game so far.

Miyata is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kurikka knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kurikka trying to control but Miyata flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Miyata doesn't have the hooks in and Kurikka manages to turn into his guard.
Miyata working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Riku Kurikka will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kurikka works the jab nicely.
Kurikka throws a poor cross that misses
and Miyata counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kurikka misses with a right hand

and Miyata counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kurikka!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Miyata is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kurikka is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Miyata working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Miyata wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kurikka, who protects the arm well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miyata is looking to take a break and control but Kurikka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurikka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Miyata wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Miyata looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kurikka is trying to get back to his feet.

Miyata working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Kurikka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kurikka is looking to regain half guard here but Miyata keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyata tries to move to mount but Kurikka blocks the move with his legs.
Kurikka struggling a bit here.

Miyata tries for a kimura but Kurikka is defending well.
Kurikka is trying to work for a sweep but Miyata has mounted him!
Kurikka is squirming around, avoiding Miyata's attempts to control the action.
Miyata controlling from mount.
Kurikka tries to lock up and control but Miyata gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kurikka bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Miyata has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Kurikka doesn't defend quickly enough and Miyata has managed to lock this one up! Can Kurikka escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Miyata on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Kira Miyata!
During a confident post fight interview, Kira Miyata thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.